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YELLOW BULLHEAD
At-a-Glance
- Scientific Name: Ameiurus natalis
- Found in Illinois: Statewide
- State Average: 8"
- State Record: 5lbs/4oz (1955)
- Best Lures: worms, crayfish, night crawlers, and cut bait
- Best Lakes (based on average size): Busse, Mazonia, Shelbyville
Angling Tips:
Like other bullheads, fish bait on the bottom near shorelines, preferably near dusk or at night.
Habitat: Yellow bullheads can tolerate a wide variety of habitats and oxygen levels, but are commonly found in shallow ponds and in clear and turbid waters with abundant vegetation.
Feeding and Habits: Like many other species of catfish, they are opportunistic feeders and their diet will consist of live and dead food items. While bullheads will feed all day, they forage more actively at night.
Reproduction: Sexual maturity is attained at 3 years of age. Bullheads build nests in natural cavities or make saucer-shaped depressions near submerged cover, such as tree roots or sunken logs. Eggs are laid from April to June. After an incubation period of 5 to 8 days, the eggs hatch and the fry school up and appear as a black "ball." The female guards the young until they are near 2 inches in length.
